Hot line connector



p 8, 1965 E. A. HOFFMAN 3,209,307

HOT LINE CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 26, 3.964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 28, 1965 E. A. HOFFMAN HOT LINE CONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1964 Sept. 28, 1965 HOFFMAN 3,209,307

HOT LINE CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 26, 1.964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 68 Imum United States Patent lice 3,209,307 HOT LINE CONNECTOR Edward A. Hofiman, 2410 Woodlawn Ave, Boise, Idaho Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,083 16 Claims. (Cl. 339-409) The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 142,839, filed Oct. 4, 1961, now abandoned, by the present inventor.

The present invention relates to clamp-type electrical connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to clamp-type electrical connectors for connection to an energized electrical power line. Still more specifically, the present invention relates to clamp-type electrical connectors for application to electrical power lines, together with tap plates for connecting electrical tap lines to such lines.

Considerable demand exists in the power distribution field for hot line clamps adapted to connect a tap line or conductor to an energized main conductor. Many such hot line clamps have been proposed in the past. U. S. Patents 2,253,432 and 1,900,990 are exemplary of the general type of hot line clamps presently available to the industry.

The clamps of the Johnson patents, as well as others available on the market, include a hook-type member adapted to hook over the energized electrical conductor and a pressure bar of some type adapted to be pressed against the bottom of the conductor by an eye bolt, through the medium of an insulated pole commonly known as a hot stick. Such clamps take a variety of forms, but in most cases the clamps available today are fabricated from die or sand castings. The production, finishing and machining of such a casting is a very expensive operation. A common metal for use in making such castings is bronze, but bronze is a notoriously poor conductor. The trade, however, has been willing to accept the low conductivity bronze because it has greater strength than castings made from metals of higher conductivity.

In addition, the hot line clamps presently on the market are extremely limited in use due to their inability to receive and hold more than one tap line. It is many times desirable to connect to the clamp one or more tap lines in line with the main line, as well as one or more tap lines perpendicular to the main line.

Finally, all clamps now on the market require that the tap line be connected to the hot line clamp prior to attachment of the hot line clamp to the energized conductor. It is highly advantageous, in many cases, to be able to quickly connect and disconnect a tap line or lines to the hot line clamp while the clamp is positioned on an energized line.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved hot line clamps adapted to permanently or temporarily connect a tap line to an energized electrical line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hot line clamp which can be manufactured at an extremely low cost.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hot line clamp which can be manufactured by extruding aluminum through a suitable die.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a hot line clamp adapted to receive and hold a plurality of tap lines.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hot line clamp adapted to receive and hold a plurality of tap lines both in line with the energized main line and perpendicular thereto.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro- 3,209,307 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 vicle an improved hot line clamp having a quick-connect side tap means.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hot line clamp having an improved side tap plate adapted to quickly attach to and beremoved from said hot line clamp.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of hot line clamp having a quick-connect tap line means;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the clamp of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view partly in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a modified version of the clamp of FIG- URE 1 having a quick-connect tap line means connected to a modified hook section;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of another form of hot line clamp having a quick-connect tap line means mounted thereon;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5 and partially in section, showing an alternate means of mounting the pressure bar of the clamp of FIGURES 5 and 6;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the top of the clamp of FIGURES 5 and 6 showing the details of the quick connect means;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a modified quick-connect tap means for use on the clamps of FIGURES 1 through 4;

FIGURE 10 shows a modified bar for use on any of the quick-connect tap means;

FIGURE 11 is a top view of a modified plate-type tap means for use with any of the clamps illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 7;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of FIGURE 11 and having an exploded view of one of the tap connectors;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view showing a modi 142,839, having a quick-connect tap means added thereto. The numeral 10 generally designates the hot line clamp main body member. The body member is made up of an upper hook portion 12 adapted to receive and hook over an energized power line or hot line 14. Hook 12 extends downwardly terminating in a generally flat plate-like bottom portion 16. Passing through body member 10 near the center thereof and at approximately the location at which hook 12 connects with bottom 16 is an eye bolt 18. Eye bolt 18 is threaded through body member 10 and is provided at its free end with a cotter pin 20, adapted to prevent bolt 18 from being completely removed from body member 10. Formed along the inner side of book 12 just above eye bolt 18 is cylindrical channel 22. Channel 22 has a narrow slot 24 formed along the inner surface of hook 12. Channel 22 is adapted to receive a pressure bar member made up of an elongated cylindrical head portion 6 connected to a curved clamp portion 28 through narrow neck 30. It is to be observed that head 26 is slightly smaller than channel 22, thereby permitting the bead to rotate within the channel and that neck 30 permits clamp 28 to rotate toward and away,

from hook 12 a limited amount as determined by the width of slot 24. Clamp 28, bead 26 and hook 12 are all of substantially the same width. In order to hold clamp 28 in hook 12, both ends of bead 26 are drilled and tapped at 32 to receive a machine screw 34. Machine screw 34 passes through washer 36 which is larger in diameter than channel 22. Thus, by placing washers 36 on either end of head 26 and fastening the washers to the head by means of screws 34, clamp 28 is held in hook 112 to prevent lateral movement but is yet able to rotate within limits as previously indicated.

It should also be recognized at this stage that hook 112 with its vertically-disposed bottom plate 16 and clamp 28 with its head 26 may be formed by extruding aluminum through an appropriate die. In this manner clamp is produced quite economically, since further machining and shaping is not required. In additon, having formed these elements by aluminum extrusion, the clamp may be made in any desired length simply by cutting off the desired length after extrusion. The hook, 12, and plate, 16, unit may be drilled and tapped for a plurality of eye bolts 18 and a plurality of clamps 28 equal in number to the number of eye bolts may be mounted in channel 22 to thereby permit individual clamping by a plurality of pressure bars. This individual clamping is extremely advantageous when a long clamp body is utilized.

Attached to plate 16 of body member 10, by means of machine bolts 38 and washers 40, is a quick-connect tap means 42. In the embodiment shown, tap means 42 is connected to plate 16 through tap plate 44. Extending beyond plate 16, side to tap plate 44 diverges or gradually broadens toward its free end to form extension 46. Extension 46 has formed on either side thereof guide means 48. In the embodiment shown, guide means 48 are upstanding side rails perpendicular to extension 46. However, guide means 48 may take the form of U-shaped channels or any other appropriate guide elements. Slideably and releasably mounted on extension 46 between guide means 48 is tap bar 50. Tap bar 50 is adapted to fit snugly between guide means 48 when bar 50 is in its furthest position adjacent body member 10. Tapped into and passing through bar 50 is eye bolt 52, having an upset end 54 adapted to prevent eye bolt 52 from being completely withdrawn from bar 50. Eye bolt 52 is adapted to be manipulated by a conventional hot stick to clamp bar 50 tightly against extension 46. As will be pointed out hereinafter, eye bolt 52 slides through a slot (not shown in FIGURES 1 to 4) in extension 46, which is wider at all points than the threaded portion of bolt 52. Removably attached to bar 50 is side tap conductor 56. Side tap conductor 56 is held on bar 50 by means of T-type, eye bolt 58 which passes through bar 56 and is held in place by block washer 60 and nut 62.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of the hook of body member 10 of FIGURES 1 through 3. In accordance with FIGURE 4, quick-connect tap means 42 is connected to the top of flat hook 64. The flat top formed on hook 64 is the only modification of the body member 10 of FIGURES 1 through 3. It is to be observed, in connection with FIGURES 1 through 4, as well as the remaining figures, that a flat extended area of contact exists between plate 44 and portion 16 and between plate 44 and portion 64. These large areas of contact result in substantially improved conductivity between body member 10 and quick-connect tap 42. It should also be quite obvious that more than one quick-connect tap means 42 can be mounted along plate 16 or a single plate 44 can be mounted on plate 16 with a plurality of extensions 46.

FIGURE 9 of the drawings shows still another modification of quick-connect tap means 42 for attachment to body member 10 of FIGURES 1 and 2. In this particular variation, plate 44 is attached to plate 16 in the same manner as previously described. However, extension 46 is bent so as to be perpendicular to plate 44.

Otherwise, quick-connect tap means 42 is substantially the same as that previously described. This particular configuration of quick-connect means 42, in some instances, makes it easier to insert and attach bar 50 from a remote location by means of a hot stick.

FIGURES 5 through 7 show another form of hot line clamp 66. Hot line clamp 66 has a hook portion 68 which is flat on top and has a general configuration similar to hook 64 of FIGURE 4. Hook 68 extends downwardly and terminates in an L-shaped bottom portion 70. Passing through a hole drilled through the base of L-portion 70 is eye bolt 72. Eye bolt 72 is adapted to be manipulated by an appropriate hot stick. Mounted on the upper end of eye bolt 72 is pressure bar 74, which, in FIGURE 7 is loosely mounted by means of rivet 76 and, in FIGURE 6, is rigidly mounted by means of rivet 76. In FIGURES 5 and 6 eye bolt 72 is threaded through block 78. Block 78 in turn is permitted limited movement between the bottom of L-portion 70 and stop 80 formed on the leg of L-portion 70. Disposed below block 78 is spring cone type washer 82. By thus mounting eye bolt '72 through block 78 and spring washer 82, pressure is resiliently applied to pressure block 74 as it rests against hot line 14 to thereby maintain adequate pressure irrespective of expansion and contraction of hot line 14. An alternative method of mounting eye bolt 72 through the base of L-portion 70 is shown in FIGURE 7. In accordance with FIGURE 7, eye bolt 72 is tapped through the base of L-portion 70. Pressure bar 74 is loosely held in the end of eye bolt 72 by rivet 76, as previously noted. However, disposed between pressure bar 74 and the end of eye bolt 72 is a leaf spring 84. Leaf spring 84 is also designed to maintain a constant resilient pressure irrespective of expansion and contraction of hot line 14. Quickconnect tap means 42 of FIGURES 5 through 7 is substantially the same as the corresponding means shown in the previous drawings, with two exceptions. In this particular embodiment, a washer 85 is interposed between eye bolt 52 and extension 46. In addition, slot 86 is shown in extension 46. As previously indicated, the threaded portion of eye bolt 52 at no time touches the edges of slot 86. This is clearly illustrated by the exploded view of quick-connect means 42, which is set out in FIGURE 8. FIGURE 8 shows that eye bolt 52 at no point during the insertion of plate 50 between guide means 48 is permitted to touch the edges of slot 86. This is an extremely important consideration, since touching of the threads of eye bolt 52 against the edges of slot 86 would cause arcing between extension 46 which is energized by connection of the clamp to the hot line and tap bar 50. This arcing would damage the threads of eye bolt 52 and prevent tightening of the eye bolt against extension 46.

FIGURE 10 of the drawings shows a modified version of the quick-connect bar of the side tap means. In this particular instance, tap bar 88 has essentially the same V-shaped configuration as bar 56 but also has extensions 90 and 92, respectively, formed on its free end generally perpendicular to the main portion of bar 88. Extensions 90 and 92 permit the attachment of side tap lines 94 and 96, parallel to the hot line to which the clamp is attached. Side tap lines 24 and 96 are anchored to extensions 90 and 92 through eye bolts 98 and 100, respectively. At the same time that lines 94 and 96 are mounted parallel to the main power line, side tap lines 102 and 104- may be mounted perpendicular to the main power line by attaching these lines to bar 88 through eye bolts 106 and 168, respectively.

Another means of attaching a plurality of side tap lines to the clamps of the present invention is shown in FIGURES 11 and 12. As shown in FIGURE 11, a plurality of side tap plates 110, 112, 114 and 116 are mounted to clamp 68 through bolts 38 which are tapped into the clamp. Since tap plates through 116 are individually mounted, these plates can be oriented in any desired direction by simply loosening bolts 38 and turning the plates. Accordingly, as shown, side tap lines 118 and 120 are attached to plates 116 and 110 parallel to the main power line through eye bolts 122 and 124. Side tap lines 126 and 128 are mounted perpendicular to the main power line through eye bolts 130 and 132, which pass through side tap plates 112 and 114, respectively. While FIGURE 12, a side view partially in section of FIGURE 11, shows plates 110 through 116 mounted on the top of the clamp of FIGURES 5 through '7, it is quite obvious that plates 110 through 116 may be attached to any of the previously described hot line clamps in the same manner as quick-connect tap means 42. FIGURE 12 also shows an exploded view of the manner in which line 126 is attached to plate 112. As shown in FIGURE 12, plate 112 has an elongated depression 132 in its upper surface adapted to receive side tap line 126. Below plate 112 and having a channel, not shown, to conform to depression 132 is spacer block 134. Spacer block 134, as well as plate 112, are adapted to receive the broad shank of eye bolt 130. Block 134 thus permits the mounting of side tap wires having a large variety of sizes, since the shank of bolt 130 can pass part way into block 134 when a small wire is clamped. FIGURE 12 also shows depression 136 in plate 110 which is adapted to receive side tap line 120 and depression 138 in spacer block 140 which is adapted to conform to depression136 of plate 110. Lock washer 142 and nut 144, and lock Washer 146 and nut 148 are attached to eye bolts 130 and 124, respectively.

It should be clearly recognized that tap means 42 of FIGURES 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 has been shown as extending in a generally horizontal plane for purposes of simplicity of illustration. However, as a practical matter it is important that extension 46 of tap means 42 be bent upwardly at an angle with respect to tap plate 44. This angle may be varied within the knowledge of one skilled in the art. In any event the purpose of bending extension 46 upwardly is to permit a lineman installing the tap means a clear view of the location of slot 86. Since the lineman cannot work directly below the connectors, but instead is belted to the pole and views the connector from an angular position, the linemans view of the tap means will be from an angle rather than from directly below. Accordingly, an essential feature of the tap means referred to is the upward angular bending of extension 46. This angular position of tap means 42 is shown in FIGURE 13 for the tap means of FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 8 and in FIGURE 14 for the tap means of FIGURE 9.

Having described and illustrated the present invention, and shown certain preferred embodiments of the same, it is obvious that various modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that such modifications and variations are to be included herein and that the present invention is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a main body member in the shape of a broad question mark and having an upper hook portion, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith, and a flat plate-like bottom portion;

(b) said body member having a cylindrical channel formed in the back of said hook portion extending along the entire breadth of said body member and forming a narrow slot in the interior surface of said body member whose width is less than the diameter of said channel;

(c) a pressure bar member equal in width to said body member having a curved clamp portion, adapted 6 to generally follow the contour of said first'electrical line and clamp against its bottom, and an elongated, cylindrical bead portion, slightly smaller in diameter than said channel, connected to said clamp portion by a narrow neck having a width less than said width of said slot;

(d) said bead portion being rotatably mounted in said channel and said bead portion and said neck being dimensioned to permit limited rotation of said clamp portion toward and away from said hook portion of said body;

(e) stop means mounted on each end of said head portion to hold and restrict lateral movement of said bead portion within said channel;

(f) first eye bolt means threadably passing through said body member near its center and at a vertical position adjacent the point where said hook portion joins said bottom portion of said body;

(g) the threaded end of said first eye bolt being in contact with the bottom of said clamp portion and said first eye bolt being adapted to press said clamp portion toward said hook portion and into engagement with said first electrical line;

(h) tap line plate means removably attached to the bottom portion of said body;

(i) said plate means having a contact portion attached to said bottom portion of said body, which is of the same shape and size as said bottom portion, and an extension portion extending below said bottom portion and gradually widening toward its free end;

( said plate means also having formed in its extension portion a slot extending from the free end of said extension portion to a' point near the center thereof and whose sides generally widen and follow the contours of the edges of said extension portion and, on the edges of said extension portion, guide rails perpendicular to said extension portion;

(k) tap line bar means longer than said extension portion of said plate means and having one end shaped substantially the same as said extension portion and adapted to be wedged between said guide rails;

(1) second eye bolt means threadably passing through said bar means;

(In) said second eye bolt means being positioned on said bar and being dimensioned such that the threads of said eye bolt will not touch the sides of said slot in said extension portion when said bar means is moved into wedging engagement betweensaid guide rails, and said second eye bolt being adapted to clamp against the back of said extension portion when said bar is in said wedging engagement between said guide rails; and

(n) third eye bolt means passing through the free end of said bar means and adapted to releasably hold a second electrical line against said bar means.

2. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a main body member in the shape of a broad question mark and having a hook portion, with a flat top formed thereon, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith;

(b) said body member having a cylindrical channel formed in the back of said hook portion extending along the entire breadth of said body member and forming a narrow slot in the interior surface of said body member whose width is less than the diameter of said channel;

(c) a pressure bar member equal in width to said body member having a curved clamp portion, adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom, and an elongated, cylindrical bead portion, slightly smaller in diameter than said channel, connected to said clamp portion by a narrow neck having a width less than said width of said slot;

((1) said bead portion being rotatably mounted in said channel and said bead portion and said neck being dimensioned to permit limited rotation of said clamp portion toward and away from said hook portion of said body;

(e) stop means mounted on each end of said bead portion to hold and restrict lateral movement of said head portion within said channel;

(f) first eye bolt means threadably passing through said body member near its center and at a vertical position adjacent the point where said hook portion joins said bottom portion of said body;

(g) the threaded end of said first eye bolt being in contact with the bottom of said clamp portion and said first eye bolt being adapted to press said clamp portion toward said hook portion and into engagement with said first electrical line;

(h) tap line plate means removably attached to the flat top of said hook portion of said body;

(i) said plate means having a contact portion attached to said hook portion of said body, which is of the same shape and size as said fiat top of said hook portion, and an extension portion extending perpendicular to and outwardly from said body and gradually widening toward its free end;

(j) said plate means also having formed in its extension portion a slot extending from the free end of said extension portion to a point near the center thereof and whose sides generally widen and follow the contours of the edges of said extension portion and, on the edges of said extension, guide rails perpendicular to said extension portion;

(k) tap line bar means longer than said extension portion of said plate means and having one end shaped substantially the same as said extension portion and adapted to be wedged between said guide rails;

(1) second eye bolt means threadably passing through said bar means;

(In) said second eye bolt means being positioned on said bar and being dimensioned such that the threads of said eye bolt will not touch the sides of said slot in said extension portion when said bar means is moved into Wedging engagement between said guide rails, and said second eye bolt being adapted to clamp against the back of said extension portion when said bar is in said wedging engagement between said guide rails; and

(n) third-eye bolt means passing through the free end of said barfneans and adapted to releasably hold a second electrical line against said bar means.

3. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a broad main body member having an upper hook portion with a fiat top formed thereon, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith, and an L-shaped bottom portion;

(b) a first eye bolt means passing through the base of said L-shaped portion;

(c) an elongated pressure bar member equal in width to the width of said body member adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom and mounted on the threaded end of said first eye bolt;

(d) spring means mounted on said first eye bolt below said pressure bar and adapted to urge said pressure bar upwardly;

(c) said first eye bolt being adapted to press said pressure bar toward said hook portion of said body member and into clamping engagement with said first electrical line, and said spring being adapted to resiliently press said pressure bar against said first electrical line;

(f) tap line plate means removably attached to said flat top of said hook portion of said body;

(g) said plate means having a contact portion attached to said hook portion of said body, which is of the same shape and size as said flat top of said hook portion, and an extension portion extending perpendicular to and outwardly from said body and gradually Widening toward its free end;

(h) said plate means also having formed in its extension portion a slot extending from the free end of said extension portion to a point near the center thereof and whose sides generally widen and follow the contours of the edges of said extension portion and, on the edges of said extension portion, guide rails perpendicular to said extension portion;

(i) tap line bar means longer than said extension portion of said plate means and having one end shaped substantially the same as said extension portion and adapted to be wedged between said guide rails;

(j) second eye bolt means threadably passing through said bar means;

(k) said second eye bolt means being positioned on said bar and being dimensioned such that the threads of said eye bolt will not touch the sides of said slot in said extension portion when said bar is moved into wedging engagement between said guide rails, and said second eye bolt being adapted to clamp against the back of said extension portion when said bar is in said Wedging engagement between said guide rails; and

(1) third eye bolt means passing through the free end of said bar means and adapted to releasably hold a second electrical line against said bar means.

4. A connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first eye bolt means is threaded through the base of the L-portion of the body member, the presure bar is loosely attached to and spaced from the end of said first eye bolt, and the spring is a leaf type spring interposed between said pressure bar and said first eye bolt.

5. A connector in accordance with claim 3 which additionally includes a pressure block threadably mounted on the first eye bolt below the presure bar and a projecting stop on the interior of the leg of the L-portion of the body member, positioned to permit limited vertical movement of said block, and the spring is a cone type washer interposed between said pressure block and the base of said L-portion.

6. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a main body member in the shape of a broad question mark and having an upper hook portion, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith, and a fiat plate-like bottom portion;

(b) said body member having a cylindrical channel formed in the back of said hook portion extending along the entire breadth of said body member and forming a narrow slot in the interior surface of said body member whose width is less than the diameter of said channel;

(c) a pressure bar member equal in width to said body member having a curved clamp portion adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom, and an elongated, cylindrical bead portion, slightly smaller in diameter than said channel, connected to said clamp portion by a narrow neck having a width less than said width of said slot;

(d) said head portion being rotatably mounted in said channel and said head portion and said neck being dimensioned to permit limited rotation of said clamp portion toward and away from said hook portion of said body;

(e) stop means mounted on each end of said head portion to hold and restrict lateral movement of said head portion within said channel;

(f) first eye bolt means threadably passing through said body member near its center and at a vertical position adjacent the point where said hook portion joins said bottom portion of said body;

(g) the threaded end of said eye bolt being in contact with the bottom of said clamp portion and said first eye bolt being adapted to press said. clamp portion toward said hook portion and into engagement with said first electrical line;

(h) at least two bolts tapped into the said bottom portion of said body member;

(i) at least two flat, elongated tap line plates, having a hole in one end slightly larger than the threaded portion of said bolts and an elongated depression in the other end to receive a second electrical line, removably attached to said body member by said bolts;

(j) second eye bolt means passing through the other ends of said plates at said depressions and adapted to hold said second electrical line against said plate in said depression; and

(k) spacer blocks disposed below said plates and adapted to receive a portion of the shank of said second eye bolt to permit clamping of wires of different sizes;

(1) said plates being adapted to be rotated to any predetermined position andt-clamped in such predetermined positions by said bolts.

7. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a main body member in the shape of a broad question mark and having a hook portion, with a fiat top formed thereon, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith;

(b) said body member having a cylindrical channel formed in the back of said hook portion extending along the entire breadth of said body member and forming a narrow slot in the interior surface of said body member whose width is less than the diameter of said channel;

(c) a pressure bar member equal in width to said body member having a curved clamp portion, adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom, and an elongated, cylindrical head portion, slightlysmaller in diameter than said channel, connected to said clamp portion by a narrow neck having a width less than said w1dth of said slot;

(d) said head portion being rotatably mounted in said channel and said head portion and said neck being d1mens1oned to permit limited rotation of said clamp portion toward and away from said hook portion of said body;

(e) stop means mounted on each end of said bead portion to hold and restrict lateral movement of said head portion within said channel;

(f) first eye bolt means threadably passing through said body member near its center and at a vertical position adjacent the point where said hook portion joins said bottom portion of said body;

(g) the threaded end of said first eye bolt being in contact with the bottom of said clamp portion and said first eye bolt being adapted to press said clamp portion toward said hook portion and into engagement with said first electrical line;

(h) at least two bolts tapped into the said bottom portion of said body member;

(i) at least two flat, elongated tap line plates, having a hole in one end slightly larger than the threaded portion of said bolts and anelongated depression in the other end to receive a second electrical line, removably attached to said body member by said bolts;

(j) second eye bolt means passing through the other ends of said plates at said depressions and adapted to hold said second electrical lines against said plate in said depression; and

(k) spacer blocks disposed below said plates and adapted to receive a portion of the shank of said second eye bolt to permit clamping of wires of different sizes;

(1) said plates being adapted to be rotated to any predetermined position and clamped in such predetermined positions by said bolts.

8. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a broad main body member having an upper hook portion, with a fiat top formed thereon, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith, andv an L-shaped bottom portion;

(b) a first eye bolt means passing through the base of said L-shaped portion;

(0) an elongated pressure bar member equal in width to the width of said body member adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom and mounted on the threaded end of said first eye bolt;

(d) spring means mounted on said first eye bolt means below said pressure bar and adapted to urge said pressure bar upwardly;

(e) said first eye bolt means being adapted to press said pressure bar towards said hook portion of said body member and into clamping engagement with said first electrical line, and said spring being adapted to resiliently press said pressure bar against said first electrical line;

(f) at least two bolts tapped into the said top of said body member;

(g) at least two flat, elongated tap line plates, having a hole in one end slightly larger than the threaded portion of said bolts and an elongated depression in the other end to receive a second electrical line, removably attached to said body member by saidbolts;

(h) second eye bolt means passing through the other ends of said plates at said depressions and adapted to hold said second electrical lines against said plate in said depression; and

(i) spacer blocks disposed below said plates and adapted to receive a portion of the shank of said second eye bolt to permit clamping of wires of different sizes;

(j) saidplates being adapted to be rotated to any predetermined position and clamped in such predetermined positions by said bolts.

9.. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a main body member in the shape of a broad question mark and having an upper hook portion, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith, and a flat plate-like bottom portion;

(b) said body member having a cylindrical channel formed in the back of said hook portion extending along the entire breadth of said body member and forming a narrow slot in the interior surface of said body member whose width is less than the diameter of said channel;

(c) a pressure bar member equal in width to said body member having a curved clamp portion, adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom, and an elongated, cylindrical bead portion, slightly smaller in diameter than said channel, connected to said clamp portion by a narrow neck having a width less than said width of said slot;

(d) said bead portion beingrotatably mounted in said channel and said head portion and said neck being dimensioned to permit limited rotation of said clamp portion toward and away from said hook portion of said body;

(e) stop means mounted on each end of said bead portion to hold and restrict lateral movement of said head portion within said channel;

1 1 (f) first eye bolt means threadably passing through through said body member near its center and at a vertical position adjacent the point where said hook portion joins said bottom portion of said body;

(g) the threaded end of said first eye bolt being in contact with the bottom of said clamp portion and said eye bolt being adapted to press said eye bolt toward said hook portion and into engagement with said first electrical line;

(h) tap plate means attached to said bottom portion of said body member;

(i) guide means on said tap plate means;

(j) tap bar means adapted for sliding engagement with said tap plate means as guided by said guide means;

(k) second eye bolt means for clamping said tap bar means to said plate means when the two are engaged; and

(1) means for attaching at least one second electrical conductor to the free end of said tap bar.

10. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a main body member in the shape of a broad question mark and having a hook portion, with a flat top formed thereon, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith;

(b) said body member having a cylindrical channel formed in the back of said hook portion extending along the entire breadth of said body member and forming a narrow slot in the interior surface of said body member whose width is less than the diameter of said channel;

(c) a pressure bar member equal in width to said body member having a curved clamp portion, adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom, and an elongated, cylindrical bead portion, slightly smaller in diameter than said channel, connected to said clamp portion by a narrow neck having a width less than said width of said slot;

((1) said bead portion being rotatably mounted in said channel and said bead portion and said neck being dimensioned to permit limited rotation of said clamp portion toward and away from said hook portion of said body;

(e) stop means mounted on each end of said bead portion to hold and restrict lateral movement of said bead portion within said channel;

(f) first eye bolt means threadably passing through said body member near its center and at a vertical position adjacent the point where said hook portion joins said bottom portion of said body;

(g) the threaded end of said first eye bolt being in contact with the bottom of said clamp portion and said first eye bolt being adapted to press said clamp portion toward said hook portion and into engagement with said first electrical line;

(h) tap plate means attached to said flat top of said body member;

(i) guide means on said tap plate means;

(j) tap bar means adapted for sliding engagement with said tap plate means as guided by said guide means;

(k) second eye bolt means for clamping said tap bar means to said plate means when the two are engaged; and

(1) means for attaching at least one second electrical conductor to the free end of said tap bar.

11. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a broad main body member having an upper hook portion, with a flat top formed thereon, adapted to hook over a first electrical line in intimate contact therewith, and an L-shaped bottom portion;

(b) a first eye bolt means passing through the base of said L-shaped portion;

(c) an elongated pressure bar member equal in width 12 to the width of said body member adapted to generally follow the contour of said first electrical line and clamp against its bottom and mounted on the threaded end of said first eye bolt;

(d) spring means mounted on said first eye bolt means below said pressure bar and adapted to urge said pressure bar upwardly;

(e) said first eye bolt means being adapted to press said pressure bar toward said hook portion of said body member and into clamping engagement with said first electrical line, and said spring being adapted to resiliently press said pressure bar against said first electrical line;

(f) tap plate means attached to said flat top of said hook portion of said body member;

(g) guide means on said tap plate means;

(h) tap bar means adapted for sliding engagement with said tap plate means as guided by said guide means;

(i) second eye bolt means for clamping said tap bar means to said plate means when the two are engaged; and

(j) means for attaching at least one second electrical conductor to the free end of said tap bar.

12. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line comprising:

(a) a main body member having a C-shaped portion adapted to clamp over a first electrical line;

(b) a pressure bar mounted on said body member and adapted to releasably clamp against the bottom of said wire and hold said wire against said C-shaped portion;

(c) pressure applying means for pressing said pressure bar against said wire and operable from a remote position by an insulated pole;

(d) tap plate means attached to said body member;

(e) upstanding guide means formed along two opposing sides of said tap plate means;

(f) tap bar means adapted for sliding engagement with said tap bar means and said upstanding guide means;

(g) bolt means mounted in said tap bar means for clamping tap bar means to said tap plate means when the two are engaged;

(h) said tap plate means having a slot formed therein adapted to pass said bolt means therethrough and being located in said tap plate means and shaped in a manner such that said guide means in cooperation with said slot prevent said bolt means from contacting the edges of said slot at all times during the relative sliding movement and clamping of said tap bar means and said tap plate means; and

(i) means for attaching at least one second electrical conductor to the free end of said tap bar.

13. A connector for connecting an energized electrical line to at least one other electrical line, comprising:

(a) a clamp adapted to be releasably clamped over a first electrical line;

(b) tap plate means attached to said clamp;

(c) upstanding guide means formed along two opposing sides of said tap plate means;

(d) tap bar means adapted for sliding engagement with said tap bar means and said upstanding guide means;

(e) bolt means mounted in said tap bar means for clamping said tap bar means to said tap plate means when the two are engaged;

(f) said tap plate means having a slot formed therein adapted to pass said bolt means therethrough and being located in said tap plate means and shaped in a manner such that said guide means in cooperation with said slot prevent said bolt means from contacting the edges of said slot at all times during the relative sliding movement and clamping of said tap bar means and said tap plate means; and

g) means for attaching at least one second electrical conductor to the free end of said tap bar.

14. A connector in accordance with claim 13 wherein the tap plate means extends beyond one edge of the clamp and gradually widens toward its free end.

15. A connector in accordance with claim 14 wherein the tap plate extension is perpendicular to the main body portion of the clamp and is disposed in a generally horizontal plane.

16. A connector in accordance with claim 14 wherein the tap plate extension is parallel to the main body portion of the clamp and is disposed in a generally vertical plane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson 339-264 Smith 339-277 X Cook 339-264 Bergan 339-245 Clapp 339-264 Moriarty et al. 339-277 X Conright 339-109 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner. 

13. A CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING AN ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL LINE TO AT LEAST ONE OTHER ELECTRICAL LINE, COMPRISING: (A) A CLAMP ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY CLAMPED OVER A FIRST ELECTRICAL LINE; (B) TAP PLATE MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID CLAMP; (C) UPSTANDING GUIDE MEANS FORMED ALONG TWO OPPOSING SIDES OF SAID TAP PLATE MEANS; (D) TAP BAR MEANS ADAPTED FOR SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TAP BAR MEANS AND SAID UPSTANDING GUIDE MEANS; (E) BOLT MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID TAP BAR MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID TAP BAR MEANS TO SAID TAP PLATE MEANS WHEN THE TWO ARE ENGAGED; (F) SAID TAP PLATE MEANS HAVING A SLOT FORMED THEREIN ADAPTED TO PASS SAID BOLT MEANS THERETHROUGH AND BEING LOCATED IN SAID TAP PLATE MEANS AND SHAPED IN A MANNER SUCH THAT SAID GUIDE MEANSIN COOPERATION WITH SAID SLOT PREVENT SAID BOLT MEANS FROM CONTACTING THE EDGES OF SAID SLOT AT ALL TIMES DURING THE RELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT AND CLAMPING OF SAID TAP BAR MEANS AND SAID TAP PLATE MEANS; AND (G) MEANS FOR ATTACHING AT LEAST ONE SECOND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR TO THE FREE END OF SAID TAP BAR. 